Beach and Bush 1 (June)

Seems so long between posts - and given it is almost the end of November, my last post in May certainly supports that. Not for the first time, a sense of perhaps a "quiet" period of photographing was dispelled quickly once I started reviewing photos since May to share. My initial surprise was just how many worth sharing happened in June ... so here is the first of several posts showing my limited meanderings as the wet year continued.

As much to remind me, as any viewers, clicking on the images will allow you to see them larger and not worry about the text if you wish.

So to begin we have some familiar sights along our wander around Shaws Bay in Ballina - an attractive walk now it is paved all the way around. First up is a little wattlebird perched among the tentacles of the casuarina pine. Then a pied butcherbird perusing for movement on a low-hanging dead branch, while a masked lapwing struts along the grass verge on the other side of the walkway.

Next up I have one of my favourites, a striated heron sitting rather mournfully and looking quite bedraggled on a mangrove branch. The breeding plummage did not seem to be attracting much joy .

After the walk and on the way behind the park on some open grassed area, these next three images show a newly hatched masked lapwing out exploring. Gorgeous little fluffballs they are! Some afternoon sun shining through the young plummage accentuates the "fluffy". Good to see not wandering too far from mum, then getting right back to be sure. Patience allowed a closer shot once it started wandering off again offering a slightly clearer view of the young plummage. I shall return in coming days to keep an eye on their progress ...

That was the "beach" part of the title; now for the "bush" ... a wander around Victoria Park during the week when it is blissfully devoid of other humans to be enjoyed in all its pristine glory - the quiet, the wind in the leaves and branches, the quiet, the sounds of the birds so they can seen, the quiet (I really like the quiet) ...

First up, one of my clearer photos of a noisy pitta - this one "standing tall" and showing the variety of plummage colours from head to tail (and rump). Others a little later (below) will offer you some sense of their character via different looks 😉.

That quiet ... it fosters patience and heightened awareness for listening ... I hear an eastern whipbird not too far ahead ... then quiet again ... movement this time, just at the base of the walkway ... what is that ... YES!!!! At last, a decent view of this elusive, wonderful sounding bird. Below is the original photo showing the view in the patch of sunshine. A good view of the head and comb and colours. Ah, this alone makes for a REALLY good visit - this bird will no longer feel quite so elusive 😁. The second photo below has been cropped and digitally zoomed in to show those features a bit more clearly. Quite the "punk"!

Just around the bend beside the walkway a grey fantail was living up to it's name on the slenderest of branches while it chittered about the trees.

Finally, back near the initial path fork another noisy pitta was unusually co-operative and photogenic, if a little annoyed at first that it had been spotted - if looks could ... 

The second of the photos shows a more relaxed pose having just completed a bit a feather ruffle and preen; the final one, just ensuring I know it is keeping an eye on me. So, as you can see, some days you just never know how fortunate you are gong to be!

The final part of this post was a quick visit and short walk along the Hind trail in the Broadwater National Park. Once again, some familiar birds, but always a treat being able to see and hear them in this truly ancient and unspoiled environment. I have simply labelled each of these, but do note that the third photo is a new sighting for me, once again the surprises are provided.

The melodius brown honeyeater

A young (far less melodious!) noisy friarbird

Black-faced woodswallow

White-faced honeyeater feeding on the edge

Rainbow bee-eater basking in late afternoon light

Rainbow bee-eater looking into the late afternoon sun.

A drive to Pottsville (Sept 2020)

We took a drive north to check a couple of reserves I had scouted on Google Maps. One proved to be far less accessible than the map indicated, but the other a much more pleasant walk and associated treats for my camera (and a good walk for our health!).

After a nice cuppa when we arrived in Pottsville, we located the Pottsville Environment Park and headed off on the loop walk. As well as the birds (and bats) there was some wonderfully varied coastal wetland and forest to admire as you meander along the track. Along the eastern and northern reaches of the track you overlook the Cudgera Creek as an added bonus. A beautiful and peaceful walk.

I have to begin by sharing a couple of non-bird photos to offer a sense of that beauty and serenity. The naturtal textures are just astounding and command you to pause for admiration.

First up for the bird photos I have a "regular" - a white-cheeked honeyeater. This one was just after we set off and the song was very close to our track. Nonetheless, it took several swivels to finally spot it ... hiding in plain sight, right at eye level and very close, something not so common. The brid's obliging nature enabled a great close-up and then, as if to simply show-off before we moved on, it caught a green flying insect to demonstrate its hunting capabilities 👏.

 

A short walk further along the track we spotted a very elusive and active white-browed scrubwren. Tiny thing, but like a lot of such tiny birds, disproportionately large feet to cling on with while perching. And in almost the same location, and even more elusive, I share my latest attempt to photograph an eastern whipbird (it is the black blur just left of center 😕; once again, seemingly close enough to touch!!).

The final set of photos on our walk are variegated fairy wrens. I share these three photos because it was a treat (a relatively rare one for me so far) to see the male so clearly and to show how the females are a real challenge to distinguish among the various fairy wrens. The colours offer a real kaleidoscope variation on the more common (to me) superb fairy wren. The environment for each photo provides a strong sense of proprotion for the small size of the fairy wrens. To me, another stunning viewing!

Once again the less trodden paths of our local area prove well and truely worthy of exploration. Real gems hidden in plain sight!

Sumptuous September (2019)

Unlike recent posts there was no particular location that produced a multitude of riches. However, being September and beginning to warm up, there was plenty on offer. So set out in this post are a range of birds located during a variety of short local drives and walks.

Many familiar characters you will recognise I'm sure; hopefully each will offer what constantly amazes me ... the setting ... "being there" and stopping to notice ... that provides the interest and difference to what you have seen before (with the same type of bird, even the same location). Life is all about context!

The first three photos were taken walking along the eastern edge of the East Ballina cemetery starting at the picnic area on the southern end. As you can see, a beautiful sunny day providing a wonderful backdrop for the birds who decided they were willing to participate 😌

A curious pied butcherbird atop a bollard. Beautiful black down.

A little wattlebird checking it is safe!

Safe! Let me feast on the nectar!

The next three photos are from a visit to Victoria Park. I included the first one to show the shot in my recent post is no fluke in that environment. The pale yellow robins are curious ... and if you be still and patient, they are keen to make you welcome in their space. I like that this guy was looking right at me to give me permission 😋. The second photo is an exercise in camouflage for you. There is a white-browed scrub wren dead centre on the forest refuse. Easy to hear, a challenge to locate and a bigger one to snap a quick shot of. The third one I had to include as further evidence of my on-going quest to capture a clear shot of the ever-elusive (to me!!) eastern whipbird. Extremely easy to hear which is the part that drives you nuts trying to locate it 😂. What would this adventure be without a challenge?

These next two are in our backyard. I have not included too many of the outrageous palette offered by the rainbow lorikeet for a while. These two photos offer a good example of the way they operate in pairs as part of a larger flock. I like that in the first one the lower of the two is giving me the "evil" eye; the second photo offers a wonderful symmetry for their view a few moments later. The colours are just magnificent! 

The white-necked heron is one of my favourite wading birds. I love the contrasting range of colour in the darker wing plummage to the white neck and head. This is an interesting pose to as it appears to be taking a rest from the more normal elongated neck for a better view while hunting. This was just out of Alstonville on Wardell Road.

The next three photos are again from our home garden, this time the front. While not strickly a "bird" the grasshopper in the first two photos does have wings and it was a big one. They certainly have a character all their own (I could not quite bring myself to write "charm" there!). I liked the way these photos capture their ability to cling to things - the legs look very spindly, but clearly the barbs are very effective for grip. The eyes, I think, are spooky! The third photo is one of our common garden birds, the lewin's honeyeater. Making the most of a "me time" at the bird bath.

Another fascinating bird, the striated heron. This time noticed on the hunt in the mangroves at the north eastern end of Shaws Bay. This was a location I had not seen this character in before. The first photo shows a stealthly perch; the second, a more relaxed watching position. I have loved the asymmetry of this bird since my very first encounter.

At the small boat harbour near the Point in Ballina I had the good fortune one afternoon to notice an osprey enjoying a fresh catch. I loved the optimism being shown by the pied currawong in the first photo that there might a morsel or two shared; as you can see from the closer second and third photos, that was not going to happen! A very different take on success compared to our consumerist way of life!

Finally, on another walk in Ballina we came across a feeding flock of little corellas. Their dexterity in eating from one foot and balancing with the other is again evident. Thecontrast of the dark green of the pine trees and the cloudy sky provides a wonderful backdrop for these playful, if noisy birds. They always allow me to appreciate "plain" is only a function of where it is seen 😊.